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History of Baptism

The following is a true record of a Baptism which took place in Rome A.D. 100 and was reproduced in TIME magazine, December 5, 1955.

"The deacon raised his hand, and Publius Decius stepped through the baptistry door. Standing waist-deep in the pool was Marcus Vasca the woodseller. He was smiling as Publius waded into the pool beside him. ‘Credis?’ he asked. ‘Credo,’ responded Publius. ‘I believe that my salvation comes from Jesus the Christ, Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate. With Him I died that with Him I may have Eternal Life.’ Then he felt strong arms supporting him as he let himself fall backward into the pool, and heard Marcus’ voice in his ear ---- ‘I baptize you in the Name of the Lord Jesus’ ---- as the cold water closed over him."

"The trinitarian formula and triune immersion were not uniformly used
from the beginning, nor did they always go together."

under Origin of Christian Baptism, page 368

"We gather from Acts 19:4, that John had merely baptized in the name of
the coming Messiah, without identifying him with Jesus of Nazareth. The
apostolic age supplied this , and the normal use during it seems to have been 'into Christ identification Jesus', or 'in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ' or ' of the Lord Jesus Christ.'"

A Dictionary of the Bible
by James Hastings
Volume 1, page 241--1906 edition

"Moreover, there is no mention in the New Testament of any one being
baptized into the name of the Trinity."

A History of the Christian Church
by Williston Walker
page 87--1957 edition

"With the early disciples generally baptism was 'in the name of Jesus
Christ.'"

Encyclopaedia Biblica
Volume 1, page 473--1899 edition
under Formula

"In the name of Jesus Christ or of the Lord Jesus. The former expression
is used in Acts 2:38 and 10:48. The latter is used in Acts 8:16 and 19:5.
See also Acts 22:16... From these passages, and from Paul's words in
the 1st Corinthians 1:13 ('Was Paul crucified for you, or were ye
baptized in the name of Paul?), it is natural to conclude that baptism
was administered in the earliest times 'in the name of Jesus Christ', or
that 'of the Lord Jesus.' This view is confirmed by the fact that the
earliest forms of the baptismal confession appear to have been single--not
triple, as was the later creed."

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (I Timothy 3:16)

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father [I am come in my Father's name (John 5:43)], and of the Son [the name of his Son Jesus Christ (I John 3:23)], and of the Holy Ghost [the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (I John 5:7)]: (Matthew 28:19)

Peter had the keys to the kingdom and understood the mystery when Jesus said baptize all nations in the NAME of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost. Peter knew Lord is Father, Jesus is Son and Christ is the Holy Ghost: and so all 3 are included in his NAME  The Lord Jesus Christ. Father is not a name, it is a title, just as Son and Holy Ghost are titles. Jesus said, I am come in my Father’s name, and I and my Father are one. (John 5:43; 10:30). John said that the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are one(I John 5:7). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.(John 1:1). John said that God is the Word and the Word is God... and the Word was made flesh  THE LORD JESUS CHRIST  and dwelt among us (John 1:1-14). For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). God told Moses, I AM THAT I AM, not I am

'these' I am or I am 'those' I am (Ex. 3:14). Confusion and controversy is created when we try to separate or trinitize the Godhead. Jesus said, Before Abraham was, I am., and I am... the Lord... the Almighty(John 8:58; Rev. 1:8). The Lord our God is one Lord (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29). There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God (Ephesians 4:4,5,6).

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17)

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15,16)

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:38,39)

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (Acts 8:12-17)

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:36-39)

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. (Acts 9:17,18)

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:44-48)

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. (Acts 16:14,15)

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (Acts 16:29-33)

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. (Acts 18:8)

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
 (Acts 19:1-5)

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 3:21)

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.... Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.... Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (Romans 6:3,4,6,12)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Colossians 1:26-28)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (John 12:24,25)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17)

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Colossians 3:9,10)

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:6,7)